In 1987, the Edenvale community had the second highest crack cocaine arrest rate in San Jose, California. 42% of the children were dropping out of high school. Less than 10% continued any education after high school. As the new principal of the local elementary school, I not only found this situation a tragic waste of human potential, but simply unacceptable.
Most parents living in this impoverished community tended to be hard working people employed at minimum wage jobs. The vast majority of the families were people of color. Many were immigrants who spoke little English. A majority of the children qualified for the school's free or reduced lunch program. Parents did the very best they could within the limited resources available to them. Like most parents, they wanted a safe community in which to raise their families and a better life for their children. In looking at the arrest rate, the high school dropout rate, and in talking with community leaders and staff members, the question was, "Could we really do something to make a difference? If so, what?"
The educational research at the time was pretty clear.
-By the end of the third grade, teachers could predict with 80% accuracy students who were likely to drop out of high school.
-Student aspirations, how they saw themselves fitting into society, were firmly established by age eight.
We realized that if we were going to make a real impact on the community, if we were going to give youngsters a real chance, the number of dropouts had to be decreased dramatically. We also knew from the research that whatever we decided to do had to start very early in the children's educational life and not wait until junior high or high school.
One Saturday, while sitting waiting for my car to go through the local car wash, I observed a smartly dressed woman and her two sons. One boy was wearing a Georgetown University jacket, and the other had on a Notre Dame jacket. As they got into a new Mercedes and drove off, I asked myself what were the real differences between these boys and the youngsters from the Edenvale community. The boys were not necessarily any smarter, but they did have all the advantages. In addition to their apparent affluence, it was clear the parents had established high expectations and the boys already knew they were headed to college. Seeing these young boys wearing college jackets gave me the idea, a way to raise student aspirations and make graduating from high school a community expectation, but also a way to introduce the idea of going to college.
Over the next few months, a small group of us contacted about 1500 colleges and universities throughout the United States. We told them about what we were trying to do and asked them if they would do two things... send a T-shirt from their college for a youngster to wear for special events and address of a pen-pal that Edenvale students could write.
Over 300 colleges responded and the Adopt-A-College program was born in March 1988.
That year, the sixth graders were ready to leave Edenvale Elementary School and start junior high school, I made every student a promise.
"When you graduate from high school in six years, and you want to go to college, I personally promise to give you a scholarship to get you started."
The promise was the "carrot" to encourage students to stay in school and graduate from high school. I had no idea where the money would come from, but we had a motto at Edenvale Elementary School: "No one can do everything. Everyone can do something. Working together, we accomplish absolutely amazing things!"
Six years later in 1994, 77% of those sixth grade students graduated from high school and the drop out rate had declined from 43% to 23%. That spring, we also awarded scholarships to 23 seniors (59% of those graduating) that chose to go on to college. 22 of the students went to community colleges or trade schools, and one student went to UCLA.
The Adopt-A-College program has continued ever since. Elementary school students start wearing college shirts, writing letters, and finding out about college in kindergarten. Each year, students adopt different colleges, wear different T-shirts and write to new pen pals. Although three principals have guided Edenvale Elementary School since I left, we have continued to make the same promise to every sixth grade student, and raise the funds for the scholarships. We have now awarded $184,500 to 361 students when they graduate from high school. Many former Edenvale students have now gone on to a variety of trade schools, colleges and universities, lead lives that make a difference, and often "give back" to the Edenvale community.
Over the years, an outstanding staff continues to believe that every child can be successful and that they really do make a difference in children's lives. They continue to work hard to close the achievement gap and strive to improve their skills and effectiveness. The students, parents, and community have continually increased their commitment to excellence at the school. There is a spirit and a culture that transcends individual teachers and principals... It's imbedded in the "walls." As a result, in 2004, Edenvale became a California Distinguished School... quite an accomplishment for any school, especially one in a disadvantaged community.
Although I served as principal at Edenvale Elementary School for nine wonderful years, it has been many years since I left to accept new responsibilities. Fortunately, each succeeding principal has not only kept the Adopt-A-College Program, but had added wonderful new elements to it. I believe that Edenvale may be the only public elementary school in the nation that promises and provides every student a college scholarship. Although now retired, I am passionate about helping raise student aspirations and providing ways to expand horizons and dreams. I continue to be deeply involved with the program, working with students and colleges, raising money, presenting scholarships, and now helping the program to expand to additional schools.
In 1988 we asked, "Could we really do something to make a difference? If so, what?" We now know the answer. We have had seventeen years of evidence that writing to college pen pals and wearing college T-shirts from a very early age, really does raise student aspirations, prevents dropouts, and dramatically increases the number of youngsters going on to college. The Adopt-A-College Program has also been a part of changing families and changing the community. I am so pleased and proud of the continuing accomplishments of Edenvale Elementary School and the Adopt-A-College Program.
Meril Smith
Founder, Adopt-A-College Program